Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology, ANG5126
Fall 2013
Section 6846
Dr. Susan D. deFrance
1112 Turlington
Fall 2013 Office Hours:
T and Th 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
and by appointment
www.clas.ufl.edu/users/sdef/
Required Texts
Zooarchaeology by Elizabeth J. Reitz and Elizabeth S. Wing, Cambridge University Press,
Second Edition, 2008.
A required lab packet is available at Book iT, 1250 W. University Avenue, Unit 2
Additional materials will be posted on the class elearning site
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
The goal of the class is to provide an understanding of zooarchaeological methods and analysis. We
will also cover a variety of theoretical issues related to zooarchaeological research; however, the
primary goal of the class is develop skills in the identification and analysis of zooarchaeological
materials. You will master a range of biological information related to skeletal biology and
taxonomy. You will then apply that knowledge to a sample of archaeologically recovered faunal
remains. The class will also provide you with the skills to make decisions regarding recovery
methods in field situations.
Course Requirements
The first third of the class will provide the biological foundation for zooarchaeological research. You
will then conduct an analysis of zooarchaeological material. The analysis will consist of the sorting
of the material, identification, quantification, and preparation of a report describing your findings. In
your report you will contextualize the sample in terms of location and chronological placement,
problematize your sample, and compare your findings to other faunal studies. An additional handout
on the format of your report will be provided (see also Reitz and Wing Appendix A3-2, Pg. 374).
You will also present an oral presentation on your findings to the class.
Grading
Attendance and Participation (CEL phones OFF)
Lab Practicals (5 – drop one score, must take all 5)
Assignments (3) 5% each
Midterm take-home exam
Research Project and Paper
15 minute Oral Presentation
10 %
20
15
20
25
10
Please do not email me your assignments to me. Bring hard copies to class.
Honor Code:
The UF Honor Pledge: We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to
hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity.
For all work submitted for credit by UF students, the following pledge is either required or implied:
"On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."
Students with Disabilities:
The Disability Resource Center coordinates the needed accommodations of students with disabilities.
Please register with the Dean of Student’s office if you require assistance. They will provide you
with documentation to present to your professor. www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/
Use of the Archaeology Lab – B357
The archaeology lab is used for teaching and student lab projects. You may use the lab anytime that a
class is not in session including nights and weekends. You MUST return the key to the lock box on
the door. Do not leave the lab door open and unlocked. Always close the door and make sure that it is
locked.
Food and drinks are not allowed in the lab. You must clean the table tops of dirt and return all items
to the storage shelves along the walls of the room before you leave.
Your respect and consideration of other individuals is essential. Please keep your voices to a
minimum. Please be considerate of your use of space and your belongings (bookbags).
There are some comparative skeletal speciments specifically for teaching. However, the majority of
the specimens will be from the zooarchaeology comparative collection. These are modern complete
skeletal specimens. Countless hours have been spent in their collection and curation. Please be
extremely careful when using them. They are in black boxes. Many of the specimens have been
sorted (i.e., the black box will contain several smaller boxes and or vials with various elements).
Once your samples are selected, comparative specimens appropriate to your geographic region will
be stored on shelves in the lab.
When using a comparative specimen, place the elements in a tan sorting box or on a plastic tray. Do
not place specimens on bare table tops. Be careful to keep comparative specimens separate when you
are comparing two or more taxa. Be careful to return all vials and smaller boxes to the original box.
Return all specimens to the shelf in the lab from which it was removed so that your classmates have
access to the material. Do not leave specimens with your sample. DO NOT remove skeletal
specimens from the lab B357.
The archaeological faunal sample for your project will be housed in boxes on a metal tray. You can
use tan trays for the sorting and storage of your specimens. Do not write on the tan boxes. Place
temporary identification labels in the boxes. These will contain both provenience information and
taxonomic information. You will be responsible for returning your project assemblage to the metal
cabinet or storage area assigned after each lab session.
You will be responsible for labeling your assemblage with proper information for curation purposes.
Once your preliminary identifications are complete, you will prepare analysis forms with detailed
identification information. Once I have checked your identifications, you will be able to prepare
permanent labels for you assemblage and transfer your assemblage to ziploc plastic bags for curation.
You are not to remove specimens, samples, or work materials (scales, microscope) from B357. If you
do, I will file a grievance with student honor court for inappropriate use of university material and
you will fail the course.
Date
Week 1
Aug. 23
Week 2
Aug. 27
August 29
Week 3
Sept. 3
Sept. 5
Week 4
Sept. 10
Sept. 12
Week 5
Sept. 17
Sept. 19
Week 6
Sept. 24
Sept. 26
Week 7
Oct. 1
Topic
Introduction
Readings
Reitz and Wing Ch. 1 and 2
History and Theory of Zooarchaeology
Intro to zooarch Bib
Taxonomy, field guides, basic sources fish and mollusk guides
Homework 1 assigned-taxonomy
and habitat
various field guides in lab
Sisson and Grossman
Skeletal and Basic Biology
and appendices illustrations
Reitz and Wing Ch. 1 and 2
Skeletal and Basic Biology
Mammalian biology and skeleton
Lab: Mammals
Homework 1 due
Reitz and Wing Ch. 3
Sisson and Grossman; Gilbert
Reitz and Wing A2-3
Lab: Mammals
other lab materials
Lab: Birds
Quiz: Mammals
Howard 1929
Reitz and Wing A2-4-A2-10
Olsen 1972 (part 4), Gilbert et al. 1981
Basic Ecology
Reitz and Wing Ch. 4
Lab: Reptiles and Amphibians
Quiz: Birds
Romer 1956, Olsen 1968
Reitz and Wing A2-11-A2-13
Site Context and Recovery
Reitz and Wing Ch. 5
Lab: Fish
Quiz: Reptiles and Amphibians
Gregory 1933
Reitz and Wing A2-14-A2-20
Wheeler and Jones 1989
Primary Zooarchaeological Data
Reitz and Wing Ch. 6
Taphonomy
Taphonomy exercise
Homework 2 assigned
Quiz: Fish
elearning readings
Oct. 3
Week 8
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Week 9
Oct. 15
Oct. 17
Week 10
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Secondary Zooarchaeological Data
Homework 3 assigned
Reitz and Wing Ch. 7, 8
Lab: receive samples, begin sorting samples
Homework 2 due
Quiz: All vertebrates
Ethnoarchaeology
elearning readings
Lab – sort samples
Distribute Midterm Exam
Domestication
Homework 3 due
Reitz and Wing Ch. 9
Past Environments
Reitz and Wing Ch. 10 and 11
MIDTERM EXAM due start of class
Homework 3 due
Work on samples
Week 11
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Work on samples
Work on samples
read project literature
Week 12
Nov. 5
Nov. 7
Work on samples
Work on samples
read project literature
Week 13
Nov. 12
Work on samples
read project literature
I will begin to check identifications
Nov. 14
Work on samples
Week 14
Nov. 19
Nov. 21
Work on samples
Work on samples
Week 15
Nov. 26
Student Presentations
read project literature
All identifications must be completed for me to verify
begin quantification of data, NISP, MNI, Biomass and Percentages
Nov. 28
Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 16
Dec. 3
Friday, Dec. 6
Student Presentations
All corrections to identifications must be completed
all curation of identified samples must be complete by 4 p.m.
Week 17
REPORTS DUE Monday, December 9, 4:30 pm
to my office B-1350 Turlington or my mailbox in Turlington 1112
(please print out a hard copy of your report; do not email them to me)